The Houston Astros will purchase the contract of right-hander Henry Sosa from Triple-A Oklahoma City in order to fill left-hander J.A. Happ's vacated spot in the rotation and to start on Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
In a corresponding roster move, the Astros will option left-hander Wesley Wright to Triple-A after just recalling him last Saturday.
Wright compiled a 4.50 ERA with one walk and two strikeouts over two innings in two relief appearances in his recent stint with Houston.
The 26-year-old Sosa, who was acquired by Houston on July 19 as part of the trade package that sent veteran infielder Jeff Keppinger to the San Francisco Gaints, went 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings in three starts at Double-A Corpus Christi before earning a recent promotion to Oklahoma City.
Sosa tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just five hits with three walks and three strikeouts, in his first start for Oklahoma City last Friday against Las Vegas at Cashman Field to earn a no-decision.
After Happ was optioned to Triple-A prior to last Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, manager Brad Mills stated the organization would make a decision regarding the rotation spot over the next day or two, but ultimately Houston held off on making a final determination until after Tuesday's game.
Houston elected to go with Sosa rather than give right-hander reliever Aneury Rodriguez the spot start, considering it was his turn to get the starting nod Wednesday for Oklahoma City in their four-game series finale at Tucson -- just 115 miles away.
Sosa, a former minor league All-Star and a member of the World Team in the 2007 XM All-Star Futures Game, will become the ninth Astros player to make his major league debut this season.
He told Examiner.com recently that coming over to the Astros' farm system as part of the Keppinger trade gives him a fresh start, as well as a better opportunity to compete and advance toward the big leagues.
"When I found out, I thought it was good for me," Sosa said. "I know I have a better chance with the Astros. The Giants won the World Series last year. They have the pitching staff they need. So, I have a much better chance to compete with the Astros."
Sosa executes the philosophy of maintaining control over his job for today, knowing that tomorrow could present a different scenario.
"I hope to keep doing what I'm doing right now," he said. "I have control over my job today, but I don't have control on where I'll be tomorrow. Today, I'm playing for Oklahoma City, but tomorrow, I could be pitching in a different uniform. I try the best I can and I believe everything has a way of working out."
He's correct.
Sosa was sitting in the dugout Tuesday night with Oklahoma City, but on Wednesday, he'll step onto the field wearing an Astros uniform and squaring off against Diamondbacks right-hander Josh Collmenter in his major league debut at Chase Field.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. CT.
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